UTA shot 48.1 percent from the field in the first half, as it carried a 37-29 lead into intermission. South Alabama shot a lowly 28.1 percent in the opening 20 minutes, including just 5-of-20 from 3-point range.

The Jaguars evened the playing field in the second half, shooting 43.3 percent from the floor to the Mavericks' 45.5 percent. South Alabama held a one-point led with 7:34 remaining following a pair of Rubit free throws, but UTA responded with seven unanswered points and never relinquished the lead from that point forward.

Both teams were active but not very effective from beyond the arc, with UTA shooting 9-of-26 from long distance and South Alabama draining 11-of-37 of its 3-point tries.